Surface properties of liposomes modified with poly(ethylenimine)

Cationic liposomes for cancer treatment have been developed in the field of chemotharpy. It was well combined on the surface of anionic tumor cell membrane by electrostatic interaction. Thus, the object of this study was to prepare the cationic liposomes capable of forming an ionic complex with the anionic cell membrane. To prepare the cationic liposomes, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) as a cationic lipid material and polyethylenimine (PEI) as a cationic polymer were synthesized. Ionic property on the surface of liposomes was determined by the zeta potential. The adsorption characteristics of plasma protein for liposome in bovine serum were determined by the particle size and turbidity change. To estimate the stability of liposome in buffered solution, the change of particle size was measured at room temperature for seven days. The cationic liposomes were absorbed a large amount of plasma protein in bovine serum because plasma protein having anionic charge was fixed on the surface of cationic liposomes. This result indicate that the modification on the surface of liposomes using cationic polyethylenimine enhances the protein adsorption in bovine serum. Additionaly, cationic liposomes showed good stability in buffered solution for seven days.